magnified

Magnified is an adjective used to describe an object or image that appears larger than its actual size. Magnification is produced by optical instruments such as a magnifying glass, microscope, or telescope, or by digital processing that enlarges an image. The term derives from magnify, which ultimately comes from Latin magnus "great" and facere "to make."

In optics, magnification is the ratio of image size to object size. Linear magnification equals the image height divided by the object height. Angular magnification compares the apparent angle an observer sees through an instrument to the angle seen with the naked eye. Magnified images may be real (projectable) or virtual (perceived at a distance from the instrument).

Simple magnifiers and microscopes typically produce virtual magnification, making objects appear larger while the image cannot be projected on a screen. Telescopes and projector systems can form real magnified images suitable for projection. The quality of magnified views depends on optics, distance, and diffraction limits set by wavelength and numerical aperture.

Digital magnification enlarges pixels in an image and can be useful for viewing small details, but does not add new information. Interpolation and AI-based upscaling may reduce blur but can also introduce artifacts. In photography, microscopy, and astronomy, magnified views are analyzed with attention to resolution, brightness, and contrast.

This article uses magnified as a general term for enlargement of size or apparent size through optical or digital means; it is not a measure of truth or importance beyond size.